January 11, 1994

Press Contact: Helen Dalrymple (202) 707-1940
Public Contact: Concert Line (202) 707-5502

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Library of Congress Plans Gala February 7 Concert Celebrating Irving Berlin's Music

A gala concert celebrating the life and work of Irving Berlin will be presented by the Music Division of the Library of Congress on Monday, February 7, at the Warner Theatre, 1299 Pennsylvania Avenue N.W., at 8 p.m.

Tickets for the concert, which are offered at no charge, will be issued both by special invitation and by public distribution.

The tickets (two per customer) will be distributed to the public on a first-come, first-served basis as long as they last on Monday, January 31, beginning at 10 a.m. in Madison Hall in the lobby of the James Madison Building, 101 Independence Avenue S.E. All seats for this concert are reserved, and there will be no exchanges of tickets. Questions about ticket distribution should be directed to the Concert Line at (202) 707-5502.

The program for the gala evening, "Doin' What Comes Natur'lly: The Library of Congress Celebrates the Music of Irving Berlin," will encompass the entire range of Berlin's works, including American popular song, musical theater, and film.

Rob Fisher is the Musical Director for the concert, which will include members of his Coffee Club Orchestra (frequently heard on Garrison Keillor's "American Radio Company"), and will feature some of Broadway's finest singers -- Brent Barrett, Sherry D. Boone, Ann Hampton Calloway, Jerry Dixon, Jason Graae, and Karen Morrow. Gaye Bowidas and Gary Pierce, of American Ballroom Theater, will make a special appearance. The host for the evening is Charles Osgood of CBS Radio.

Irving Berlin's creative output spanned most of the 20th century, and many of his popular songs have become an integral part of our culture -- "White Christmas," "God Bless America," and "Alexander's Ragtime Band" -- and will be a part of this program.

Music from Berlin's stage productions will feature highlights from Miss Liberty, Annie Get Your Gun, and Call Me Madam, using original orchestrations from these shows in numbers such as "There's No Business Like Show Business," "It's a Lovely Day Today," and "Doin' What Comes Natur'lly." Many of the songs from films will be those written for Fred Astaire, using the original Johnny Green and Ray Noble arrangements, such as "Let's Face the Music and Dance" and "Change Partners."

The Warner Theatre opened as a movie palace named the "Earle" in 1924 and has recently been restored to showcase its lush neoclassical decor. It offers seating for approximately 1,800 people.

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PR 94-006
1/11/94
ISSN 0731-3527